Containerization and the Changing Operational
Characteristics of Transport TerminalsConventional freight terminals tended to have a small
surface due to smaller ship sizes and the possibility to
transship directly from the ship to land conveyances (e.g. trucks or
rail cars) and vice-versa. This was made possible by the slow
loading / unloading process as mechanization was limited and
most operations were improvised depending on the availability of
labor and the nature of the cargo being transshipped. Still, the
number of piers could be extensive since ships were spending
much more time at ports.Containerization rests on large terminal surfaces as
the large volumes being carried by ship cannot be
immediately reconciled with inland operations. Transshipment
is thus indirect with a temporal and spatial modal
separation. Terminal operations are also highly dependent on
machinery (e.g. cranes), all of which requiring an extensive
organization and management.